Web roll supporting mechanism



Aug. 30, 1932. c. SCRAFTS WEB ROLL SUPPORTING MEGHANISM Filed April 22, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 30, 1932.

Filed April-22, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet. 2A

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Aug. 30, 1932. c. s. CRAFTS WEB ROLL SUPPORTING MECHANISM Filed April 22, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 30, 1932. C, s CRAFTS 1,874,904

WEB ROLL SUPPORTING MECHANISM Filed April 22, 192.9 6' sheets-sheet 4 NVENTOR.

fig/awww ATTORNEY Aug. 30, 1932. Q s CRAFTS 1,874,904

WEB .ROLL' SUPPORTING MECHANISM 2:1/ f4 .fea

ms 79,\\\ w ff 4 27 n \\l\\ u@ slybm@ N 2f L@ Y f Ci Z L :E ATTNEY Aug. 30, l1932. C, CRAFTS 1,874,904 Y WEB ROLL SUPPORTING MECHANISM Filed April 22. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ff a 72g? 6 u n .so ,L lx

El 34 l Y Q Y 0 34 gki 2k6 a6" i 32 17/- I 2fy 6 Q Q6 v' l l L l ATToRZ Y The invention relates to a novel and use- I Patented Aug. 3o, 1932 UNITED STATE-sy; PATENT- olii-VICE oUn'rIs s. CRAFTS, or onx rmx, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoB 'ro Goss rnINrINe Pansa oon- IANY, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS WEB noLL sUrron'rINe Mnenmsm application-meckern a2, 1929i' semi Np. 357,126.

ful web rollsupporting devices and 4more yespecially to means for handling and support- 1ng web rolls including rollsof di widths, for registering the web fed from thel web roll with the printing press or other "web consuming machine, for tensioning the webl fed from theweb roll, at the same time permitting a new web roll to be brought 1ntoposition with a minimum of time' and effort, and finds a broad field of usefulness in highspeed, rotary printing presses and other web using machines which employ heavy web rolls and run at high speeds. Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the

v construction,

invention same'being realized and attained by means go'off the instrumentalities and Combinationspointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, arrangements, eomblnatlons and. Improvements herein shown and described;

l The accompanying drawings,'ieferred to vherein and constituting a parthereo'f, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and

together with the description, serve to eX-' plain the principles ofthe invention.u

' Of' the drawings Fig. l is'an elevation of the webproll sup.- in accordance with my' porting mechanism Fig. 2 is an end view looking from the left & 3 0f Fig. 4 is a detail elevation, ertam parts being shown in sectionof one endof the web roll' supporting mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on theiline 5 5 of Fig. 4; G i

Figi 6 is a detail sectional view taken on 45itl1e lille 6 6 Of Fig. 4.;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7 7- of Fig. 4;

` F ig. 8 isuanenlarged detail view of the removable shafts employed with the present form of web roll supporting mechanism and i erent Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken on i different widths, the web being drawn from the web roll at high and different speeds and under tension, which tension may be varied to suit the various conditions at hand. The

invention is also directed to the provision of such a mechanism which is unusually elicient v and can be operated easily and quickly for performing all 'of these functions separatelyl Justment of one mechanism byereason of the adjustment of the others.

A further object ofthe present invention is the provision of such a mechanism whereby 'the usual web-roll supporting spindle or mandrel is rendered unnecessary, thereby facilitating the replenishing of the web roll by dispensing with the unfastening and refastening of the brake mechanism to the spindle, bringing the brake pulley into proper relation with the brake mechanism of the 'press and the sub- By the present invention the web roll is moved endwise into the web handling mechanism,

accurately positioned with respect to the mechanism, is quickly operatively mounted or conjointly and without necessitating rea 1 sequent adjustment of the brake mechanism. i'

on'its rotatable supports, is quickly and accurately registered with respect to the print-p ingpress or other web-using machine, is quickly and accurately changed to support" web rolls of 'different widths. and an* exhaust" ed web roll is removed with a minimum offh time and trouble. Other features of the invention will be initially pointed out in connection with the following detailed descriptions of the present preferred embodimentof the invention; and it will be understood that the foregoing general' description and the following detailed description are both exemplary and explanatory but not restricted to the invention.

Referring now 4in detail to the present preferred embodiment, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, the general framework of y cross-section,

` and 15 securely bolted within recesses formed in the Hoor. On these guiding and supporting members, vertical members 16, 17, 18 and 19 are 'slidably mounted by means of sleeve members 20, 21, 22, and 23 respectively, having offset sleeves at right angles to 'each other. Each of these sleeve members supports, in its vertically extending sleeve 25, one of the vertical supporting members 16 to 19 and is fastened to it by means of set screws 24, while the other sleeves I26, are slidably keyed to the guiding members 10, 11, by means of keys 27. For increasing the rigidity of these vertical supporting mem-- bers 16, 17 18 and 19 and holding them upright, a header 28 is provided with sleevesv 29 at each end, lits over the upper ends of the vertical supports 16, 17, 18 and 19, and eX- tends across the longitudinal guides 10, 11 to connect pairs of vertical members together. For rigidly securing the headers 28, to the vertical supports, set screws may be screwed into engagement -with the vertical supports, thus holding the headers against movement thereon. l I

The embodied means for engaging the ends of the axial oriiice of the web roll and rotatably supporting the web roll between the up and down on upright supports.

Means are-provided for moving one spindle longitudinally of its axis so that the cone of an exhausted web roll can be removed and a new web rollvinserted in its place, and for this purpose, spindle 30 is rotatably journalled `in a threaded sleeve 35, in engagement with a second threaded member` 36, which second member canbe turned inthe hub portion of the Spanner-31, by rotation of disc 37, to move the threaded sleeve 35 in and out. The spindle-moving mechanism shown is similar to that more fully shown and described in an application of Martin W. Brueshaber, Ser. No. 310,571, filed October 5, 19218, and need not be set forth in greater detai For the purposepof facilitating introduction of' a new web roll to replace a web roll which has become exhausted, means are provided,l whereby the new web roll may be moved endwise into position, while it is su ported on a small easily moved truck. s embodied, a track, comprising suitable spaced-apart rails 40 anchored within recesses in the lioor, extends longitudinally of the 'on rails 40 and is formed with a concave tap 42 to provide a depression forv holding the web roll 32 s6 it will position itself centraly of the machine to clear the upright memf ers. l

For quickly moving either of the spanners 31 in a vertical direction to clear one end of the machine and allow the endwise movement of the roll between the supporting members, there is provided, on each of the headers 28 and above spanners 31, a shaft 44, journalled in brackets 45 extending outwardly from each end of the headers 28. On these shafts are mounted a pair of drums 47 and cables 48, securely fastened to the shaft 44 and on these drums 47, are connected at their lower ends to the spanners 31. For turning the shaft to wind the cables on their respective drums and hold the spanners in raised position, a hand wheel 49 and ratchet 50 are mounted on one end of each shaft 44. Pawl 52, pivoted on bracket normally engages with the teeth of ratchet 50 and as the hand wheel is turned to raise the spanner 31, clearing the end for the endwise movement of the roll, pawl 52 holds shaft 44 against the retrograde movement, thereby freeing the operator, who may then move the truck and web roll between the supports and into the web roll handling mechanism. As soon as the web roll has been moved into osition, pawl 52 may be released allowing t e Spanner to descend into its normal position.

In the present preferred embodied form of the invention, the spanners at each end of theyweb roll may be raised after the ends of the axial orifice of the web roll have been engaged by the spindles 30, 30', mounted ce'ntrally of the spanners 31,\and for this purpose means are rovided for raising or lowerin each end o each Spanner 31 to raise theA we roll from its supporting truck 41 and lift it into running position or to lower the anners into position so the spindles 30, 30 can engage a new web roll. As embodied, each of the sleeves 34, at the ends of the s anners, are provided with apertured lugs 55 tting loosely over vertically extending shafts 57, parallel to the upright supporting imembers 16, 17, 18 and 19.- Shafts 57, 57 are threaded for a portion of their length, and'engage Awith threaded collars having a laterally extending apertured plate 61 tting over the 130 Shafts 57 are rotatably journalled in and supported .b sleeve members 20, 21, 22 and 23..

f at their ottoms, and the upper ends of the shafts 57 are journalled in lugs 63, on headers 28. As these shafts are turned, the lthreadl ed collars 60 are moved vertically,

raising \or lowering the ends of the spanners 31 tom gether with the spindles 30, 30.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the ends of the spanners uniformly and by operation of a singlemeans and as embodied in the present form of the invention, a longitldinally eXtendin journalled in end rames, parallel with the guldlng and supporting members 10, 11, and

extends for substantially the length of the machine. At one end of this shaft is fixed a hand wheel 67, where it can be conveniently reached by the operator when itis desired to raise or lower the web-roll-engaging spindles 30, 30. ,In addition, shaft 65 is journalled in the slidable bifurcated arms 68 'extending from sleeve members 70, .slidable on shaft and'keyed'to it, are mounted between the forks of these bifurcated arms 68. For transmitting motion from the worms to shafts v57', gears 69, in mesh with the 'worms, are pinned to the lower end of shafts 57. At the upper end of shafts 57 and 57 are sprocket wheels 72 and chains 74 connect the sprocket wheels at the opposite sides of the machine, and consequently, movement of v the hand wheel 67, turns shafts 57 by reason of the worms and'worm ears and these shafts drive shafts 57 f throug sprocket chains 74. All of the ends of the spanners are thus kept level and movement of one shaft necessitates an equal movement of the rest.

The embodied form of means for moving the supporting members toward and from each other to accommodate web rolls of greatly different sizes comprises gears 76 keyed to shafts 78 journalled in the .slidable sleeve members 20 and 22, and held directly over the supporting and guiding rod 10. Gears. 76

mesh with gear teeth 79 out in the upper portion of t-he supporting and guiding rod 10. At the outer end of shafts 78, are fixed lhand wheels 80 and the shafts 78 are held against` endwise movement by collars 81. Each of the two shafts 82, at the other side of the web'roll handling and supporting mechanism is alined with the corresponding shaft 78, and is similarly journalled rin the slidable sleeve members 21 or 23. Shafts 82 carry gears 84,v

meshing with `teeth 86 cut in the upper surface of the guiding and supporting member' 11 and collars 87 Vprevent endwise movement of the' Shafts 78 and 82, are squared 4 at'y shafts.- theifr'inner ends and are connected together bya removable shaft 90 havingsquare sockets 91 l at its end to fit over thes uared ends of the ahned shafts on opposite si es of the machine.

shaft 65 is rotatablel 20 and 22, and worms threaded shaft 106 in unison, a

tracted, allowing them tobereadilyremoved from the end of the machine. usedl for the introduction of the web roll, and in thev present embodiment comprises a tubular member 93, having a square socket 91 at one end, and within .this tubular member is fitted a rod 94, of slightly smaller diameter also provided at one end with a-square socket' 91. To keep the removable shaft in place, and in engagement with the squared ends of the shaft 78 and 82,

the rod 94 and tube 93-are yieldingly extended by a spring 95, fitted within the tubular member 93 and compressed between the inner end of rod 94 and a pin 96 driven through the tubular member. On opposite sides of the tubular member are provided longitudinally extending slots, 97 in which slide a pin 98, passing through rod 94, thereby serving to limit the extension of the removable shaft and at vthe same time prevent turning of the rod- 94 with respect to the tubular member 93. Means are. also provided for laterally registering the web roll with respect to the prlnting press or other web using machine and as embodied in the present mechanism comprise means for simultaneously and longitudinally moving the guiding and supporting rods 10 and 11 with the web roll supportin members, 16, 17, 18'and [19 spanners 31 an spindles 30 and 30. As previously described, guiding and supporting rods 10 and 11 are s lidably'moun'ted'in end frames 12, 13,' 14 and 15 at the ends of the mechanism and these rods ca'rry the uprightsupporting members between which the web roll is rotatablysupported. -To one end of these rods 10 and 11', and at the outside of the ends frames, are secured brackets 100 and 101 having depending arms 102,- 103 from which guiding pins 104 extend inwardly and through apertures in the end frames 12 and 13.y Threaded shafts 106 engaging with a .Corresponding threaded opening in the end frames arerotatably journalled in the depending arms 102 and .103 and are held against endwise movement by collars 108 andv sprocketwheel 110 and 112. AFor turning s rocket chain 111 runs between sprocket whee s 110 and 112 jacent sprocket wheel 110, is fixed gear 113,

'l meshing with avrllsmaller gear 115, journalled `andbeneath the rails 40. On shaft 106, adv v by disc 117 and cap screw 118. `As hand Wheel 116 is'turned, gear 113 rotates, turns the threaded members 106, moving the arms 102, 103 and brackets 100, 101 'toward or from end frames 12, 13 and thereby moves the guiding and supporting members 10 and 11 and the web roll supported thereby to register theweb, fed from the web roll, with the printing plates on the cylinders of the printing press or with some other part of the web using machine. By reason of this mechanism, the side register of the web can be quickly, easily and accurately corrected without Vdisturbing any of the adjustments effected by the other elements of the mechamsm.

Web tension controlling means are provided and in this embodiment comprise a brake mechanism operable on a spindle engaging one of the ends of the axial orifice of the rotatably mounted web roll. vPrefer'- ably, and as here shown, the brake mechanism is mounted on the spindle which is not longitudinally movable with respect tothe Spanner in which it is mounted. A brake drum 120, fixed on the outer end of spindle 30,'is provided with a deep V-shaped peripheral groove, `With which cooperate corresponding Varcuate brake shoes 122, of V- shaped cross-section, mounted on brake arms 124, which in turn are pivoted on shafts 126 outwardly extending from the central portion of spanner 31. The upper ends of brake arms 124 are yieldingly pressed together, to obtain the desired brake pressure for properly tensioning the Web drawn olf from the Web roll, by means of rod 127, pivoted in the Aupper end of -one brake arm 124 and passing through the-upper end of the other brake arm. Hand wheel 128, threaded on the free end of rod 127 compresses spring 130 to force the brake shoes together and tension the web, which tension can be controlled, as desired, by movement of the hand wheel 128'.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the `specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of the accompanying claims Without departin from the principles of the invention land wit out sacrificing its chief advantages. What I claim is 1. A web ro'll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a web roll, means for raising the supporting means for either end out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position, means for moving said supporting means toward or from each other to accommodate web rolls of different Widths and means for laterally moving the supporting means to register the web with a printing press or other web using machine.

2. A web roll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a web roll, means for raisin the supporting means for either end out 0% the path of a Web roll moved endwise into position and means for uniformly raising each of the supporting means to lift the Web roll into running position.

8. A web roll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orice of a web roll, means for raising the supporting means for either end out of the path of a Weby roll moved endwise into position, means for releasably holding the supporting means in raised position and?y means for uniformly raising each of the supporting means to lift the web roll into running position.

4. A -Web roll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a Web roll, means for raising the supporting means for either end out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position, means for releasably holding the supporting means in raised position and means for moving said supporting means toward or from each other to accommodate web rolls of different Widths.

5. A web roll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the ax` ial orifice of a Web roll, means for raising *10 the supporting means for either end out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position, means for releasably holding the supporting means in raised position and means for laterally moving the supporting means to register the web with a printing press or other web using machine.

6. A web roll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a web roll, means for raising the supporting means for either end out of` the path of a web roll moved endwiseinto 4 position, means for uniformly raising each of the supporting means to lift the web roll 115 into running position, means for moving said supporting means toward or from each other to accommodate web rolls of different widths p ing press or other web using machine.

7 A web roll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a web rjoll, means for raising the supporting means for either end out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position, means for, releasably holding the supporting means in raised position, means for f moving ysaid supporting means` toward or from each other to accommodate web rolls .of diierent widths and means for laterally moving the supporting means to register the 'web wlth a printing press or other web using machine. l g

v8. A web roll handling and supporting apparatus including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of thel axial orice of a web roll, means for raising .10`the supporting means for either end out of the path' of a web roll moved endwise into position, means for. releasably holding the supporting means inv raised position, means for uniformly raising each of the supporting means to lift the web roll into running position and means for laterally moving'the supporting meansto register the web with a printing press or other web using machine.

Y 9. A web roll handling and supporting apparatusincluding in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a web roll, means for raising the supporting means for either end out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position, means for releasably holding the supportingv means in raised position, means for moving said supporting means toward and from each other to accommodate web rolls of different widths, means foru'niformly raisin each of the supporting means to lift the we roll into running position and means for laterally moving the supporting means to register-the web with a printing press or other web using machine.

10. A web roll handling mechanism including in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a web roll, means for raising supporting means for either end out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position, means f or moving said supporting means toward or from .each other to accommodate web rolls of diler- Vent widths and means for uniformly raising each of the supporting means to lift the web roll into running positlon.

11. A web roll handling mechanism includling in combination means for engaging and supporting the ends of -the axial orifice of a web roll, means for raising the supporting means for either end out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position, means for moving said supporting means toward or from each other to accommodate web rolls of diferent widths, means forlaterally movin the sup iti'ng means to register the web wit a printing press or other web using machine and means uniformly raising each of the supporting means to lift the web roll into running position.

12. A web roll handling mechanism including in combination means for enga 'ng and supporting the ends of the axial orifice of a web roll, means for releasably holding the supporting means for either end out of thev 4 path of aweb roll moved endwiseinto position and means for uniformly raising each lof the supporting means to lift the web rollinto running pos1t1on.

13. A web roll handling mechanism includl ing in combination means for engaging and' 'path .of a web roll moved endwise into p'osi- 7 tion, means for moving said supporting means 4toward or from each other to accommodate web rolls lof different widths and means for uniformly raising each of the supporting 'means to lift the web roll into running posio s I tion.

14. A web roll handling mechanism including in combination means for rotatably supporting the web roll, means for independently 'Y moving a portion only of 4the supporting means out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into positionand other means for raising the web roll into running position.

15. A web roll handling mechanismv including in combination means for rotatably supporting the web roll by engagement with either end of the axial oriice of the web roll, means for independently moving a ortion only of the supporting means out of t e path of a web roll moved endwise into position and other means for raising the web roll into running position.

16. A web roll handling mechanism including in combination means for rotatably supporting the web roll, means for independently raising a portion only of the supporting means out .of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position and releasably holding it in raised position and other means for raising'the webroll into running position.v

17. A web roll handling mechanism includlos ing in combination means for rotatably supl porting the web roll byengagement with either end of the axial orifice of the web roll,

means for quickly independently raising a l portion onlyv of the supporting means out of the path of a web rolll moved endwise into position and releasably holding'itj in raised position and other means for raisingthe web roll into runnin position.

18. A we roll handlingmechanism including in combination means for rotatably supporting the web roll, means for independently moving'a portion only of the supporting means out o the path of'a web roll moved endwise into position and other means for raising both ends of the web roll in unison to lift `the web roll into running position-' 19. lA web roll handlingmechanism including in combination means for rotatably supporting the web roll by engagement with either end of the axial orifice of the web roll, means for `independently raising a portion only of the supporting means out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position and other means for raising both ends ofthe web roll in unison to lift the web roll into runnmg position.

20. A web roll handling mechanism including in combination means for rotatably supporting the web roll by engagement with l either end of the axial orifice of the web roll 'for raising a portion only of the supporting means out of the path of a web roll moved endwise into position and releasably holding it \in. raised position and other means for raising both'end's ofthe web rollin unison to lift the web roll into running position.

21. Web roll handling and supporting mechanism including in combination spaced apart vertical supports at the ends of the web roll, web roll engaging spindles vertically movable freely and independently of each other on said supports, means for holding said spindles in raised position and means for raising said spindles in unison to lift the web roll to running position.

22. Web roll handling and supporting mechanism including in combination vertical supports at the ends of the web roll, web roll engagin spindles supported by said supports an freely movable thereon independently of each other, means for releasably holding said spindles in raised position, var1- ably positionable lugs on said supports for maintaining said spindles in web roll supporting position, and means for raising and lowering/said lugs inunison.

23. In combination, a head, means thereon to support a revoluble spool in horizontally offset relation thereto, an upright including an upright guide shaft on which said head is movable up or down, and means to' move said head up or down including a screw shaft coacting with the guide shaft to guide the head, said screw and guide shaft being parallel to each other and offset one with relation to the other in the same lateral direction as the spool and head are offset onel with relation to the other.

24. In combination a head, means thereon to support a revoluble spool in horizontally` offset relation thereto, an upright includin an upri ht guide shaft on which said hea is mova le up or down and `having` a guide surface for said head parallel with said shaft and means to move sald head up or down including a screw shaft coacting with the guide shaft to guide the head, said screw'and shaft being parallel to each other and offset one with relation to the other in the same lateral direction as the spool and head are offset one with relation to the other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' CURTIS S. CRAFTS.

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